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President Mugabe is a great liberator, teacher, father and leader. Zimbabwe’s born-frees are privileged to live and learn during the life of this iconic leader

Wicknell Chivayo Correspondent

I attribute my success to the opportunities that have been presented not only to me but to all Zimbabweans. Having had the rare privilege of interacting and learning from the giants who liberated the country, I can testify to the consistency of vision, selfless sacrifice, humility and courage of luminaries like President Mugabe as well as Vice-Presidents Joshua Nkomo, John Landa Nkomo, Simon Muzenda and Joseph Msika, among our other icons.

Growing up in the dusty streets of Chitungwiza, I was determined to be part of a successful generation through harnessing and exploiting the vast opportunities obtaining in Zimbabwe.

Our beloved country is endowed with natural resources and many other valuable opportunities for youths to make it to the top.

Being one of the born-frees, I have benefited immensely from Government’s progressive policies since Independence.

These policies represent a logical progression since the advent of nationalist politics in the 1960s, whose goal was to emancipate Zimbabweans and return land and other precious natural resources to the black majority.

As a leading young Zimbabwean entrepreneur in the energy sector with interests in solar and other forms of power generation, I can confidently attest to being a proud beneficiary of Zimbabwe’s Independence.

We seriously cherish our hard-won Independence, which saw many lose lives while some of our heroes — fallen and living — spent many years in jail.

The objective of the protracted liberation struggle was for us to attain independence, thereby enabling us to access our God-given resources.

Travelling across the globe, I have come to understand that other governments, especially in Africa, have not put in place economic policies to advance the lives of the majority.

But in Zimbabwe, the great statesman, President Mugabe, has made it possible for youths to make it.

I have been invited to participate in a number of multi-million-dollar business opportunities in the region, including in Africa’s second biggest economy — South Africa.

I attribute my success to the opportunities that have been presented not only to me but to all Zimbabweans.

Having had the rare privilege of interacting and learning from the giants who liberated the country, I can testify to the consistency of vision, selfless sacrifice, humility and courage of luminaries like President Mugabe as well as Vice-Presidents Joshua Nkomo, John Landa Nkomo, Simon Muzenda and Joseph Msika, among our other icons.

A common denominator in all these great men is their passion for the youth and determination to impart revolutionary ideals.

Their torch bearers — Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko — among many other great revolutionaries, are tested and principled.

My experience with President Mugabe and VP John Landa Nkomo has an indelible impression.

The President is a true Pan-African, who ensured we are in total control of natural resources, especially land.

Whereas a paltry 4 500 white farmers possessed vast tracts of prime land, land reforms have benefited over 350 000 indigenous Zimbabweans.

What more could we ask for from our great revolutionaries?

President Mugabe is a great liberator, teacher, father and leader. We are privileged to live and learn during the life of this iconic leader. We have learnt the virtues of unity, patriotism and empowerment through his words, deeds and policies.

First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has also proved that blacks can achieve a lot, especially with her flourishing dairy and farming projects in Mazowe.

It shows that blacks are not inferior; we can work wonders just like any other person whether white, coloured, Indian or otherwise.

VP John Landa Nkomo will be remembered as a principled leader, mentor par excellence and disciplinarian.

The man was an uncle, father, friend, counsellor and pillar of strength. His teachings remain with me; a vision of a united nation, regardless of tribe, race or religion.

After having been constantly at his side through his long painful battle with cancer, my consolation has been the opportunity to continue supporting his various social and community initiatives in Matabeleland under the auspices of the John Landa Nkomo Foundation.

I implore the youths of Zimbabwe to embrace the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) and look for opportunities rather than whine and whimper while doing nothing.

I have travelled to many countries and can confidently conclude that we are part of a fortunate generation because we enjoy opportunities other youths elsewhere only dream of.

Our country is blessed with abundant resources like minerals, wildlife, land, human capital, progressive leaders and enabling policies.

Above all, we enjoy peace and tranquillity.

Now is the time to seize opportunities and not be crybabies!

Wicknell Chivayo is a businessman and Managing Director of Intratrek Zimbabwe. He is an advocate of empowerment and economic emancipation of youths and has lately hogged the limelight for sponsoring the country’s senior soccer team, the Warriors.